A smashing noise rang out, followed by a scream, as a young man smashed a large ink well through a wooden wall that made his mansion shake with his rage. "That fucking bitch! She just allows some commoner wretch to enter her home and place when she won't even let me in!"
Another man, wearing a cloak, said with clear warning in his voice. "Zhu Yuan and her master Cai Xuan directly brought him into the sect, and the elder is watching him quite closely due to his special fate-altering physique."
The younger man scowled with clear frustration and hate on his face before taking a deep breath. "I am... Well aware, such a physique in the Dragon's Fate Physique is a natural tonic for the sect, and I can't and shouldn't do anything to the host. But Yanyo Hanying is mine! My grandfather took that trash on only for her beauty to be under me!"
"It's so damned frustrating... But I am no one's fool, if I can cling to Jake Bariss as fate bends over to accelerate his growth, then I don't want to be his enemy, as fate will be protecting him, especially in his earlier growth."
The man in the cloak added with a wry smile. "Those so vibrantly protected by the world's will and fate itself do always drag their clan's friends, and especially their loved ones up with them when they rise. It's why the sect's protect said fated ones so violently and unreasonably."
With a sigh, Lumao Shan the grandson of the Outer Sect elder held a pot of wine before scowling as he wasn't going to setup himself up to be a damned stepping stone for a new son of fate. He had to break this lock and not be played.
As not even his grandfather, stuck at the lower levels of the Golden Core was going to defend him if he courted death by becoming a stepping stone. Not to mention the most important fact beyond this... Brat being a son of heaven.
Cai Xuan, the Core Elder, was at the peak of Nascent Soul. Why in the world would he or his grandfather get on her bad side when said core elder was using this man for her own ends?
The man in the cloak who had delivered all this information, gave a slight bow before he said calmly. "Well, young master. Do you want me to inconvenience him or Yanyo at least for you to let off some anger?"
The young master's scowl darkened before he scoffed, and with a heavy exhale, he said flatly. "Hell no, don't pull me into this damned pit of no return. The sect will happily use me as a stepping stone for the son of fate to have the Sect's destiny and luck reinforced."
Even though Lumao Shan was angry, he wasn't a fool... He knew that although the sect wouldn't allow Jake to destroy him due to his grandfather's accomplishments and merits.
That didn't mean he wouldn't be destroyed emotionally, mentally, and have his future prospects ruined after being trampled and losing his confidence.
"I can't touch Jake, but Yanyo Hanying... Hmph, my grandfather gave you everything, and this is how you repay us? I will have my pound of flesh, I promise you that." He growled before smiling, and he looked to his grandfather's steward and said with a cruel smile.
"Have Yanyo and Jake assigned to that new Foundation Establishment-ranked dungeon the sect just pulled in. I am sure... That they will have a wonderful time."
The cloak-wearing man paused before he slowly nodded and said quietly. "Jake can only blame himself for looking upon the feast that was meant for the young master. Seeing her ruined will settle any grievance in your heart, won't it?"
Lumao Shan had a cruel smile cross his face before he said with finality. "I will be satisfied indeed. Now get back out there and watch what Jake is doing. If he truly is a son of fate, any crumbs he leaves behind will be valuable even to this young master!"
-
"There truly were the extra levels..." Yanyo Hanying spoke quietly as she sat almost limply at a small side table in the Wood Mountain Sect's library with a much older man sitting across from her.
All too clearly in front of her was a stack of a dozen scrolls, and books in the free section taken from several different points that all remarked on the Meridian Clearing and Foundation Establishment having two extra levels for genius cultivators.
And although Yanyo Hanying wasn't a monstrous genius who could break through levels of cultivation in mid-battle or punch above her very core realm. She was still a standard genius, she WAS a genius by any elder's point of view.
But now with her already at the peak of Foundation Establishment, there would be a cost to pay for her to dredge the two Meridians she missed in the Meridian cleansing realm. To say nothing of having to collect the resources for the two extra levels of Foundation Establishment.
In reality, however, with the Yin-Yang Mountain Milk, she didn't need any resources obviously... Still the reason she was blanking out was her master looking at her reading and was patiently sitting across from her awaiting for her reaction.
"Why... Did you never tell me about the extra levels?" Yanyo Hanying asked her master quietly.
Yanyo Hanying's master, who was the grandfather of Lumao Shan, and his name being Xiaoli Shan, shifted at the quiet and blame-filled question. Still he answered bluntly and with interest in hiding his thoughts.
"In terms of talent, you are a solid five or six out of ten, frankly. You will without a doubt reach the peak of Golden Core towards the end of your life and be an elder of the sect. But reaching Nascent Soul?"
He shook his head and said calmly. "If you did take those two extra level's you would be on the edge of reaching Nascent Soul towards the end of your life almost certainly. And would waste countless resources in your attempts to reach it."
There was a long pause before Yanyo's face darkened, and she said quietly. "You wanted me to just settle for your grandson right?"
To which Xiaoli Shan smiled wryly and then said in affirmation. "That is correct, little Ying. My grandson's potential is only entry into the Golden Core unless I find some special Heaven and Earth treasures. You, who barely has a whisp of Nascent Soul potential, would ensure my bloodline would have Nascent Soul potential in the next generation."
Yanyo refused to look at her master as it's not like she could curse him out... Not only would everyone look down on her, but she was an outer sect disciple that her master found worth in. So, although she... Very much disdained the typical young master that was his grandson.
She didn't want to be an ingrate. So she took a breath and asked calmly. "You held back crucial information towards my dao path, Master... You knowingly held back and decided to cripple my path, so please excuse me."
There was a pause before Xiaoli Shan's expression darkened, and he leaned in with many youths in the surrounding area of the library staggering as Xiaoli Shan's aura of mid-stage of Nascent Soul crashed down on them.
"I did not dismiss you, Yanyo Hanying." He said calmly with icy eyes as he looked down at his disciple, who had previously moved to a sitting position only to collapse partially on the table.
Xiaoli Shan kept up the pressure as blood began to leak out of Yanyo Hanying's nose and eyes as she began shaking under the pressure that made the air vibrate.
Until a loud sigh broke through and Xiaoli Shan snarled out. "Who dares!"
And then Xiaoli Shan's expression paled, and he snorted with blood leaking out of his mouth as his pressure was violently retracted back within his body as a soft, feminine voice spoke out.
"I dare, my disciple is trying to find a martial art, and I see you making a fool out of the Five Elements Sword Sect by bullying a disciple for not marrying your grandchild!"
Xiaoli Shan snapped back but quietly, even as Yanyo Hanying quickly moved away. "She is my disciple, and what I decide what to do with her. Is none of your business!"
Yanyo Hanying quickly made her way away from the library, knowing all too well that her master was going to be in trouble for flexing his aura in the library. And regardless of what happens, she didn't want to be left in his clutches.
Still that voice... It was familiar to her, but she couldn't place the voice, seeing as it was only the divine sense version of a voice that was being remotely transmitted.
'I need to take my destiny in my own hands... And if Jake needs to lay his hands on me to open my Meridians. I will happily accept it as he has been open and helpful to me! Unlike that stinky grandson who thought I was sold to him!' Yanyo thought fiercely as she clenched her hands into a fist of determination.
Then she quickly made her way to the Sect's storage and trading zone, where she quickly found a tier three Beast Fire that was on sale due to the beast flame coming from a Lava Born Ox.
Sure, it was a powerful flame, especially for a tier three beast flame. But it was notoriously stubborn and was infamous for being somewhat unreliable for use in alchemy.
But it was the best beast flame available. And still had the best potential, which would be the best way to repay Jake for enlightening her about how her Dao path was almost ruined!
-
I couldn't help but wear a prime and proud smile as over the last few hours, I was able to easily reach the Ninth Meridian Cleansing stage with all nine of my Meridians filled with wisps of pure and strong qi.
"No wonder people love cultivating... The feeling of a breakthrough is just addicting, honestly." I muttered with a soft sigh of relaxation as I? I was utterly chill at this point.
Having baptised myself in that Yin-Yang Mountain Milk, I was going to break through to the Foundation Establishment in but a few days at most.
But as I was about to doze off. The buzzer for my cultivator cave/apartment rang out with a soft buzz that just barely disturbed me in the living room. "Is that Yanyo?" I muttered and looked over at the clock to make sure I hadn't slept/trained through the day?
And nope, she was like two hours early, which was why it was surprising to me, if it was her anyway.
I walked up to the door and peered through the small screen that allowed disciples to see outside. In case they wanted to ignore certain people who had been bugging them or otherwise.
My eyes then quickly found the very same green-haired beauty... And obviously I didn't just leave her at the door as I opened up the metal door in confusion.
"I expected you later to be honest?" I said with some confusion.
But Yanyo Hanying shook her head and she took a deep breath before she spoke. "Come, lets go where you promised. I have the Beast Fire to trade for as well."
Hearing she had a Beast Fire which would be very useful for the alchemy I wanted to have for my future. I nodded with Yanyo quickly following beside me as we quickly made our way towards the herb graveyard.